Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-07-06

| our inalienable and never-lessening atfac-
| tion for our country. Surely the occasion
is most appropriate, and cold and selfish
| is the heart of that man who is not actuated
| by motives of patriotism to do honor to the
memory of that day which has resulted in
such inestinlable good to this mighty ma
ton.
Difficult, indeed, it is for the mind of
man to realize to its full extent all that is
| implied in one hundred and eleven years
of uninterrupted freedom and constantly
increasing strength. Within that period
the greater portion of the civilized world
has been shaken from center to circumfer-
ence, and wonderful and startling are the
changes that have been wrought King
doms have tottered and fallen; powerful
dynasties haze risen, flourished and de-
cayed; principalities have been created
only to be destroyed But for that length
Of time, through it all, thank God, the
American government has passed safely,
| gaining strength prosperity and intelll-
gence with each succeeding year, until
now it stands the proud peer of any nation
of the world-honoring all, honored by
all, and fearing none. lApplause.
/
To what cause can we attribute our ex-
alted position to-day? Simply, to the great
wisdom Of our forefathers, Who in laying
the foundation of this government, recog-
nized the fact that of all laws that
| bind men and nations closer together,
those OF the heart are the strongest; that it
is not the imposing array of armies, not the
metaphysics of schools, not the belligerent
| theologies of sect that unite and exalt a
| nation. 1t is the ethics of the heart, and
| wherever it prevails, liberty and peace
| abound; wherever it is absent, anarchy
and despotism must sooner or later be the
| peoples doom 1t must be organized
| with reference to the good and the happi-
ness of the people. 1t is fact that none
! of the systems of the governments of the
ancients We're founded upon the true
principles. Conquest and glory were
| their chief aim, and hence we find
that the happiness oftheir most privileged
classes cannot be compared with that OF
the average American citizen of to-day.
| (Mr. Taylor then referred to the glories
| of ancient nations, which, however, did
not save them from decline because of
|
| with all her greatness, is still governed by
an aristocracy and maintains a state
church, and the harp OF Erin hangs tune
less and sad from the leafless bough of her
blasted oak.
| THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA.
Let AIS pass on. briefly, to the close Of the
war of our independence. A new govern
ment was to be established, nor could a
safe model be taken from the history of
the past; but that same spirit which pre-
sided over the revolution still presided.
and out of the chaos which followed was
brought forth a new creation, beautiful,
orderly and harmonious. There was no
Caesar to seek crown; there was no Crom-
we'll to claim a protectorate; there was no
envy, no jealousies, no religious fanati-
cisms. But our forefathers, with Washing
ton. who had so often led them to victory,
and whose highest ambition il was to
be free and useful American citizens,
established the graGdest government the
| world has ever seen, enthroned upon a
foundation of eternal law, which nothing
can alter nor overthrow; upon a new and
broad foundation of equal rights, popular
intelligence and public virtue.
| A GLORIOUS HERITAGE.
What glorious heritage has been left
to US, my countrymen! How proud we
should be Of that heritage, and how CON
slant should be our efforts in the protec-
ton and preservation of this great
trust which has been reposed in us
But there is power which, il
so eXerted, may either save and
exalt nation, Or. by working its division
jeopardize the happiness OF the people; and
that power is in the hands of our states
men to whom are entrusted the welfare
the safety and honor of our country
What a high responsibility! yet, with self
interest in view, to what base, ignoble ends
is this sacred trust sometimes prostituted
by men who, degraded by low party spirit
would sacrifice their country for ambl
TONS sake! This responsibility, however
is primarily vested in the voters of the
country. Hence, it should be the aim and
laudable ambition of every American citi
zen, regardless Of party feelings, to cast
his ballot at every election so as to give tc
his mind the strongest possible assurance
that the actions and the policy proposed
! by the agent for whom he votes will re
suit in the greatest good to hiscountry and
the greatest number of his fellow-men. Il
becomes matter of the greatest impor.
tance, not only for us to know how we
vote, but also upon what principles he fol
whom we vote shall cast he's ballot, and in
what manner he proposes to administer
this great public trust.
DAYS OF TRIAL
Our sky has not always been serene
Only few short years ago heated dis
cussion arose and party spirit prevailed
and then see what a terrible calamity wa
brought upon our people. Our nation was
divided and the dark clouds that had beer
lowering in the distance, onnious of The
J impending doom. gathered thick and fas
around US, and soon we were engaged in
, all the horrid cruelties of civil war
How fearful was the result, we all know
too we'll by the deep drapery of mourn
: ing which covered our beautiful land
from one end to the other, and by the